Community Garden

The Goodwin College Community Garden, founded in 2012, is dedicated to sharing the joy of gardening with our community, including both our students, employees, and our neighbors in East Hartford. It is open from sunrise to sunset every day. The hours are meant to be convenient so people can stop by before or after work or on their lunch break. Goodwin College security guards will be making the garden a part of their daily rounds. Identification cards will be given to those with plots so they can enter the fenced in area. Everyone will be given the combination to the locks on the gates as well.

Located at 349 Main Street near the former Transmission Shop, the garden space includes 55 8’X8’ raised beds, a community tool chest, and sitting area. Among the plots are three beds designed for those with limited mobility, and those reserved for community group use.

Plots are reserved on a first-come-first serve basis in February of each year, and decisions about plot assignments, including the sharing of plots, are made by the Community Garden Committee with the goal of maximizing community use.

Also, the Garden will host a series of community activities throughout the summer, so please contact us to join our mailing list for updates.

Gardening Supplies

Gardeners should furnish their own seeds and plants. The Garden Committee welcomes plant donations from nurseries and other growers to be distributed to gardeners; however, we rely on our individual members for the bulk of the plantings. Gardeners are welcome to enrich their plots with compost and organic fertilizer, but chemical fertilizers and pesticides are not allowed.

Gardeners are also encouraged to bring their own tools. A small number of communal tools are made available to those who cannot bring their own.

Garden Access

The Garden space is secured by a gated fence. A combination lock is used to secure the gate, and gardeners will be given the combination. Frequently, the garden area will be opened during the day by Goodwin College staff. Members of the public (non-gardeners) may visit the garden area as guests of gardeners or with the permission of Goodwin College staff. Otherwise, the garden space is considered the private property of Goodwin College and is not open to the public.

Contact Us

For more information about the Goodwin Community Garden, please email Chip Thermer at CThermer1@goodwin.edu